5 UFC Undercard Fights in October Worth Watching

Chris Cariaso (14-5) vs. Iliarde Santos (27-8)

This fight should be a solid scrap for a few reasons. First, Santos and Cariaso are both in a “must win” position after suffering back-to-back defeats. However, all four stumbles came against game adversaries, so it’s not as if the duo was dropped by inferior opposition. Secondly, the flyweight division is wide open based on the lack of depth, so a big win could land either man in a scenario where 2-3 more victories could result in a title-shot. Finally, Santos and Cariaso are both extremely talented. They are high-energy, technically sound fighters able to grapple or strike depending on what the situation dictates. (UFC Fight Night 29 – October 9)

Sarah Kaufman (16-2) vs. Jessica Eye (10-1)

It’s almost a shame this bout is buried on an undercard as stacked as the one attached to UFC 166 instead of featured towards the top of a smaller show. Kaufman has been a Top 5 fighter for a long time and beaten a number of seasoned scrappers including Shayna Baszler, Roxanne Modafferi, Alexis Davis, Liz Carmouche, and Miesha Tate. Eye doesn’t have Kaufman’s resume, but she definitely has equivalent potential to emerge as a title-contender in 2014 and there aren’t many better ways to start her campaign than with a victory over someone with Kaufman’s name value. (UFC 166 – October 19)

John Dodson (14-6) vs. Darrell Montague (13-2)

These two should play significant roles in the UFC’s flyweight division for a long time. Dodson hasn’t fought since nearly pulling off an upset against champion Demetrious Johnson last January but don’t expect “The Magician” to experience any ring rust since the energetic showman is rarely if ever stationary. Dodson is arguably the second fastest flyweight behind Johnson and is good at using his speed to compliment his relatively heavy hands and grappling ability. Though the 25-year old Montague is a newcomer, he is on a four-fight winning streak and finished ten foes with an even split between TKOs/submissions. (UFC 166 – October 19)

Hector Lombard (32-4-1) vs. Nate Marquardt (32-12-2)

Fans have been waiting to see Lombard at 170 pounds for awhile and will finally get their wish in a few weeks. Better yet, Lombard’s divisional debut will come against a veteran like Marquardt who is also a former middleweight and has a similar skill-set. Both men like to throw strikes with bad intent but aren’t afraid to go to the ground either. Adding intrigue, each is backed into a corner based on recent performances, and the loser in their collision could very well find himself seeking employment elsewhere shortly thereafter. (UFC 166 – October 19)

Andrew Craig (9-1) vs. Luke Barnatt (6-0)

Craig and Barnatt are interesting prospects for different reasons. The former is a cement-fisted slugger with a good chin and some wrestling ability to boot. The latter is freakishly tall for the division at 6’6” and can mix it up in most areas. The winner won’t get a lot of press for emerging victorious, but the bout is a good measuring stick for each while also providing fans with what should be a bloody brawl. (UFC Fight Night 30 – October 26)

There are plenty of prime pairings on tap for next month’s slate of UFC shows including a title-fight and some clashes with contendership implications. However, a significant number of showdowns set for the preliminary portion of October’s events come with the potential to have fans forgetting about the main card match-ups based on the likelihood for delivering a high dose of entertainment. While the undercard bouts attached to UFC Fight Night 29, UFC 166, and UFC Fight Night 30 may not feature the UFC’s biggest stars, but they definitely involve some of the brightest. (Photos by USA Today Sports Images)